TWO MEN, one who always spoke the truth and the other who told nothing but lies, were travelling together and by chance came to the land of apes. One of the apes there had raised him to be king, and he commanded them to be seized and brought before him, so that he might know what was said of him among men. At the same time he ordered that all the apes were to be seated in a long row on his right hand and on his left, and that a throne be placed for him, just as was the custom among men. After these preparations he made signs that the two men should be brought before him, and greeted them with this salutation:

  “What sort of a king do I seem to be to you, strangers?”

The lying traveller replied,

“You seem to me a most mighty king.”

“And what do you think of those you see around me?”

“They appear to be worthy companions of yourself, at least fit to be ambassadors and leaders of armies.”

The ape and all his court were gratified with the lie and gave the flatterer a very handsome present. On this the truthful traveller thought to himself, “If such a great a reward is given for a lie, what will I not get in reward if I tell the truth as I am used to do?”

  The ape quickly turned to him.

“And how do I and my friends around me seem to you?”

“You are a most excellent ape,” he said, “and your companions are excellent apes too.”

The king of the apes flew into a rage at hearing these truths and gave him over to the teeth and claws of his companions.

❖ Lowliness of decent, simple people may be lifted up through truths well given and sorted out.

❖ In hard and trying circumstances it could work best to weigh and consider well inside oneself, while at the same time being very modest in expressing oneself.

❖ Watch your words in circumstances you don’t know so much of.